Our alum Noomi Saarinen: Expert work at ministry combines independent effort and cooperation

Curbing the junk economy

Noomi Saarinen works as a senior specialist in a team responsible for internal market policy at the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The aim of the work is to support the proper functioning of the EU’s internal market – in other words, to guarantee the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. This makes everyday life easier for citizens and businesses, supports growth and encourages innovation.

Noomi is also part of a broader team that develops other business legislation. At the ministry, she has also worked on e-commerce and analysed international cheap goods businesses and products harmful to consumers.

“Our work is at the heart of EU policy: we pursue benefits for both EU citizens and businesses. The key reward in my work is exactly that – getting to influence important matters and the bigger picture, such as the direction of Finland’s EU policy and, at best, the course of the whole EU,” Noomi says.

Toward your dreams, one step at a time

Noomi’s work at the ministry involves seeking out and producing information, but also presenting, justifying and negotiating. In addition to quiet, independent work, you also need to know how to present yourself.

Civil servants’ work also demands persistence, flexibility and prioritisation. The framework always comes from the effective government programme, and in practice, there is always more work to do than the resources allow. In a role heavily focused on EU matters, an interesting extra ingredient comes from cooperation with other member states and the work done in EU expert networks and working groups.

Noomi stepped onto her career path already during her studies, as an intern at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. After graduating, she worked at an Employment and Economic Development Office for a few years, until a pivotal opportunity opened up in 2018: as Finland’s EU presidency approached, Noomi landed a position as an EU specialist at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. She later also worked at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and at the European Commission, before starting in her current role in 2025.

Early in your career, the most important thing is getting your hands on real work. You can change the subject matter later and move gradually toward your best suited role."

Noomi Saarinen

“Early in your career, the most important thing is getting your hands on real work. You can change the subject matter later and move gradually toward your best suited role,” Noomi notes.

Student activities, exchange periods and tools for working life

Upon graduation, Noomi could not yet have imagined ending up in a role focused so heavily on the economy, competitiveness and growth conditions. Nowadays, however, she finds these themes interesting and important, and she has studied economics further alongside her work.

In upper secondary school, Noomi especially enjoyed languages, social studies and psychology. It was originally her mother who suggested applying to political science studies at university, although Noomi herself had reflected on it, too. She was hoping for a career path that would combine an interest in international affairs, the world with its phenomena and the wide range of opportunities in expert work.

In her major, political science, Noomi’s strongest interest was drawn to EU politics and, more broadly, the study of society. The subject covered topics such as the political systems of Finland and the EU, the history of ideas, advocacy and civil society, and parties and ideologies.

“The studies definitely gave a good foundation for working life. We practised many things that my current job also involves, such as seeking out and producing information, presenting it and justifying it,” Noomi says.

Noomi also looks back warmly on her years of student association activity, which she feels taught her many working-life skills and enabled valuable networking. An Erasmus exchange in Spain and a CIMO internship in Mexico supplemented her studies with international experience.

“It feels meaningful to me to be an alum of Tampere University and my own student association, Iltakoulu. Still today, these are connecting factors in working life.”

Text: Tiina Leivo